Illuminated backsplasher for electric ranges



Sept- 5 H. E. ACKEMANN ILLUMINATED BACKSPLASHER F 0R ELECTRIC RANGES Filed Aug. 19, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l nmnnn Sept. 2, 1952 H. E. ACKEMANN 2,609,476

ILLUMINATED BAVCIJKSPLASHER FOR ELECTRIC RANGES Filed Aug. 19, 1949 2 SHEETS---SHEET 2 INVEN TOR. Harold E. Ackemann FIG. 3 I

Fatenteti Sept. 2

ILLUMINATED BACKSPLASHER FOR. ELECTRIC RANGES Harold E. Ackemann, Elgin, Ill., assignor to Hotpoint Inc., a corporation of New York Application August 19, 1949, Serial No. 111,301

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to electric ranges, and more particularly to illuminated backsplashber of control switches for the individual surface heating units. Each of these control switches is of the pushbutton type including an off pushbut- =.ton and five individual control pushbuttons corresponding to the respective five heating rates of the associated surface heating unit. The off pushbuttons and the five control pushbuttons in each of the control switches are selectively operative correspondingly to actuate the control switch to govern the corresponding heating connections between the associated surface heating unit and a common source of current supply. Also, each control switch is provided with an individual illuminating arrangement, including a hood and an associated lamp, for the purpose of selectively illuminating an operated one of the five control pushbuttons to serve as a signal indicating the operated position thereof, each of the pushbuttons being formed of a transparent plastic material accommodatin the transmission of light therethrough from the lamp mentioned.

In U. S. Patent No. 2,437,555, granted on March 9, 1948, to Gregory L. Rees, there is disclosed a modified form of the Andrews pushbutton switch incorporating a color card in the illuminating arrangement thereof. Specifically, the color card comprises blue, green, purple, yellow, and red panesrespectively associated with the five control pushbuttons, the colors noted sequentially indicatingincreasing heating rates of the associated surface heating unit resulting from operation of :the corresponding. control pushbuttons. In this arrangement the different colors serve as a key to the corresponding heating rates of the associated surface heating unit resulting from operation of the corresponding control pushbuttons; and, as noted, the red and blue colors respectively indicate the highest and the lowest heating rates, and the other colors respectively indicate noted incorporating the Rees pushbutton switches constitutes a refined and efllcient appliance, it is 2 more expensive to manufacture than is desirable preventing ready incorporation of this color cooking control arrangement in the more moderately priced electric ranges.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide in an electric range, a backsplasher carried by the cooking top thereof that incorporates animproved and economical arrangement for illuminating the backsplasher and the cooking top and for illuminating a plurality of pushbutton control switches mounted in the backsplasher and selectively operative from the front thereof in order to obtain different heating effects from the corresponding different heating units incorporated in the electric range.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an electric range, an improved illuminating arrangement of the character noted that correlates the operation of the individual pushbuttons in the different pushbutton control switches with the corresponding switching functions thereof in conjunction with the corresponding diiferent heating units incorporated in' the electric range so as to obtain a color cooking control.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an electric range, an improved arrangement of the character described that requires only a single elongated electric lamp to accomplish all of the illuminating functions noted.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the electric range, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further ob,- jects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of an electric range, illustrating the backsplasher carried by the cooking top adjacent to the rear thereof, and embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the backsplasher, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the backsplasher, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric range In there illustrated, and embodying the features of the present invention, comprises an upstanding frame or body ll provided with a substantially horizontally disposed, cooking top l2 terminating adjacent to the rear thereof in an 'ltQ'p. I2, as explained more fully hereinafter.

upwardly directed pedestal I3 carrying an upwardly extending hollow backsplasher I4. The body II comprises an oven, not shown, disposed in the right-hand upper portion thereof below the cooking top I 2, and a storage space, not shown, disposed in the left-hand upper portion thereof below the cooking top I2. Also the cooking top I2 has a plurality of openingsformed in the lefthand surface thereof in which corresponding surface heating units are removably secured in place. Specifically, the left-hand surface of the cooking top I2 has four openings formed therein arranged both front and rear and left and right, andremovably carrying corresponding surface. heating units. For convenience, the four surface heating units will be referred to hereinafter as the left front, the right front, the left rear and'the right rear surface heating units. In passing it is noted that the left rear surface heating unit may also .be loweredbelow the cooking top I2 in orderto provide a deep-well cooking unit. In Fig. 1 the removable left front and left rear surface heating units are respectively indicated at I5 and I6, and

.the removable right rear and right front surface 1' heating units are respectively indicated'at I1 and .18.

Also, the oven, not shown, comprises the usual bake and broil heating elements, not shown. ,The backsplasher I4 is of hollow construction as previously noted including a front wall I9 that pr oji'e'cIts upwardly and slightly rearwardly, as well asfjupwardly extending side walls and M, a

"substantially vertically disposed rear wall 22, a "substantially horizontally disposedbottom wall '23, and a rearwardly and upwardly curved top wall 24. The backsplasher I4 maybe of one-piece pressed steel construction and constitutes an instrument and heating control equipment panel,

A laterally extending w'ardly and rearwardly and then upwardly and forwardly. A laterally extending window 2! is iformed in the upper portion of the panel "somewhat below the top wall 24 and carries a or the like, so that light from the interiorof the backsplasher I4 maybe projected through the pane 28 arranged inthe Window 21 for the purpose of illuminating the'panel 26'andthe cooking A laterally extending trim element 29 is suitably fseclir'edto the front surface of the panel 26 below the window '21, and a laterally "extending trim lement-en i's'suitably secured to thefront surface of thefpanel 25 below the trim element 29. A laterally extending'opening or a series 'of' laterally extending opening sections 3| are formed "in theupper portion of the panel 26 behind the upper trimelement 29 and a laterally extending opening or a series of laterally extending open- "ing sections '32 are formed in the lowe'rporti'on "of thepanel-26 behind th lower trimelementisfl. *A supporting bracket 33 is arrangedwithin the hollow backsplasher I4 and suitably secured to "the rear surface of'the panel 26.

A clock-controlled timing mechanism -34 is arranged within the hollow backsplasher I4 and issuitably supported by the bracket 33- an is provided with control facilities 35 projecting through theopening 32 and trimmed by the right-hand end of the lower trim element as. Ihe timing 'll'nechanism'34 is arranged'to control the'o'pen- =1ng and the closing of the electric circuits of the laterally extending pane 28 formed of clear glass,

of current supply, not shown; 'whilethe heating elements of the oven in accordance with predetermined settable time. An oven control switch 36 of the pushbutton type is arranged within the hollow backsplasher I4 and is suitably supported by the bracket 33 and is provided with four individual pushbuttons projecting through the opening 3i and trimmed by the right-hand end of the upper trim 'eleme'nt'29. The individual pushbuttons of the oven control switch 36 com-.

prise a broil pushbutton, an adjacent timed bake pushbutton, an adjacent bake pushbutton,

andan'adjacent off pushbutton; these pushbuttons being arranged from the left toward the right in the order named. In the operation of the pushbutton switch 36 the off pushbutton is operative to disconnect the heating elements of the oven, not shown, from an associated source of current supply, not shown; while the bake, timed bake and broil pushbuttons are selectively operative to effect corresponding heating connections between the heating elementsof the oven-and the source of current supply mentioned. Four ifl'd'i vidual surface heating unit control switches '4I, 42, 43 and 44 are arranged within the hollow backsplasher I4 to the left of the oven control pushbutton switch 36 and substantially inflater'al alignment therewith. The four pushbutton switches 4|, 42, 43 and 44 are suitably supported upon the bracket 33 and are each provided with six individual pushbuttons projecting through th'e opening SI and trimmed by the left-hand-end and the central portion of the upper ftriln element 29. The pushbutton switches 4I, "42,143 and 44 respectively correspond to the surface heating .units I5, I6, n and a; and'in each df' ihese pushbutton switches the individual pushbuttons comprise a high pushbutton, a medium h igh pushbutton, a medium pushbutton, aflow pushbutton, a warm pushbutton and an offplishbutton; these pushbuttons being arra 6d' from the left toward the right in the order-named. In the operation of thepushbutton switch 4-I,' fo'r example, the off pushbutton is operative todisconnect the individually associated left'froiitsil'rface heating unit I5 from the associated sduice lgh, medium-high, medium, low and warm pushhuttons are selectively operative to-effect'the ii 've corresponding individual heatingrate connections between the individually associated left front surface heating unit I5 and the associated "source of current supply mentioned.

Each of the five pushbutton switches 36, M, 42, 43 and 44 is of the basic constructiondi'sclosed in the Andrews patent noted 'and is provided with an individually associatedcolor card of the general character of that "disclosed in t'he Rees patent noted, except that 'it is simplified by the omission of the individual'illumihaii'n'g arrangement therefor. As best shownin 2 and 3, the pushbutton switch nj' ihdividualto the right front surface heating un id-campuses the six individual pushbuttons 5| to" use inclusive, each formed of a'suitablelig ht ansnii'tting plastic material and the'tin dividual' 'co lor cardGIl is associated with the pushbutton swit ch 44'and comprises the five individual light color transmitting panes GI to 65, inclusive, respectively associated with the correspondin'g individual pushbuttons 5| to'55, inclusive. "'In the color the oifflpushbutton 56, i f desire e button switch 44 comprises a shutter arrangement so that the operation of any one of the five control pushbuttons to 55, inclusive, aligns the inner end thereof to receive light transmitted through the associated pane 6! to 65, inclusive. For example, when the warm pushbutton 55 is operated the shutter arrangement causes the transmission of light through the associated pane 65 and thence through the warm 'pushbut ton 55 to the exterior adjacent to the front of the backsplasher is. The shutter arrangement mentioned includes a ferrule -H carried by the inner end of the warm pushbutton 55 and provided with an opening 12 therein thatco'operates with anasscciated opening 13 formed in an element M of the housing of the switch is. Also, the inner end of the warm pushbutton 55 is provided with suitable serrations indicated at 15 for the purpose of reflecting forwardly therethrough the light that is received through the pane 55 and the aligned openings F2 and T3 when the warm pushbutton 55 occupies its operated position. The details of the shutter arrangement are not disclosed in the interests of brevity, since they are completely disclosed in the Bees patent I mentioned.

As previously noted, the pushbutton switch 35 that is provided for the purpose of controlling the circuits of the heating. elements associated with the oven, not shown, is also of the basic construction described. However, in this arrangement, the color card, not shown, associated therewith comprises three light color transmitting panes respectively associated with the bake, timed bake, and broil pushbuttons thereof. The pane associated with the bake pushbutton is green; the pane associated with the timed bake pushbutton is yellow; and the pane associated with the broil pushbutton is red.

Further, a laterally extending fluorescent electric lamp 8! is arranged in the upper portion of the backsplasher l5 and mounted upon two laterally spaced-apart fixtures 82. The electric lamp BI is provided with a circuit-including a control switch 83. The control switch 83 is suitably mounted within the backsplasher 14 upon the bracket 33 and is provided with a forwardly projecting control knob that is trimmed by the right-hand end of the upper trim element 25. When the electric lamp BI is illuminated, light proceeds therefrom through the pane 23 in the window 21 in order to illuminate the panel 25 and the cooking top i2. Also, when the lamp 8i is illuminated, light proceeds therefrom onto the color cards 55, etc., respectively associated with the individual pushbutton switches 44, etc., in

order to illuminate with the individually associated color the particular operated control pushbutton in each one of the pushbutton switches 44, etc. Specifically, assuming that the warm pushbutton 55 in the pushbutton switch M is operated, the light proceeds through the pane 65 in the color card 65 and thence through the aligned openings 13 and i2 and is then projected forwardly by the serrations 15 through the body of the warm pushbutton 55 in order to illuminate the warm pushbutton 55 with the blue color.

This arrangement is very economical as the single laterally extending electric lamp 8| not only illuminates the front of the backsplasher M and the associated cooking top l2, but it also illuminates each one of the pushbutton switches 35, 4|, 42, t3 and 44. Moreover, this arrangement properly correlates the desired heating effect of a given heating unit with operation of the appropriate control pushbutton in the associated pushbutton switch by means of the color appearing at the end of that particular operated control pushbutton. This arrangement permits the recipe for preparing a particular dish to be given in terms of cookingtimes against cooking colors, thereby eliminating the confusion of the cookin attempting to correlate cooking times against cooking temperatures.

Further, within the backsplasher is adjacentto the timing mechanism 34 there is mounted upon the bracket 33 an oven temperature regulator, not shown, and a time alarm device, not shown. The oven temperature regulator is provided with a rotatable temperature setting knob 9i; and the time alarm device is provided with a rotatable time setting knob 92. The rotatable knobs HI and 52 are positioned adjacent to the right central portion of the lower trim element 30 and are trimmed thereby. Finally, a convenience outlet 83 is mouted upon the right-hand front surface of the front wall I9 and provided with a normal plug receptacle 94 and a timed plug receptacle 95, either of which may be employed for the purpose of heating a portable electrical appliance, such, for example, as a coiiee pot. The normal plug receptacle 94 provides a steady source of electric power; and the timed plug receptacle 95 provides a timed source of electric power governed by the timing mechanism 34 in accordance with conventional practice. o

In view of the foregoing it will be understood that when the control switch 83 is operated to illuminate the electric lamp 8i, the trim elements 29 and 3B, the panel 25 and the cooking top !2 are automatically illuminated; and also operated ones of the control pushbuttons of the various pushbutton switches 35, 5!, Q2, 53 and id are automatically illuminated with the corresponding'colors as previously explained so as to with, the heating effects produced in the corresponding heating units. Thus it is apparentthat there has been'provided an'electric range incor= porating a simple and economical arrangement for illuminating the backsplasher thereof and for producing a color cooking control in each of the individual pushbutton switches carried by the backsplasher.

'In the copending application of Ray C. Sandin and Thomas M. Steinbach, Serial No. 107,084, filed July 27, 1949, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, there is disclosed another form of an electric range incorporating a single electric lamp for illuminating the cooking top of the range, the backsplasher of the range and the individual target holes formed in the backsplasher and associated with the individual pushbuttcns incorporated in the several pushbutton switches carried by the backsplasher.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric range including a cooking top, a plurality of surface heating units carried by said cooking top, a source of current supply, and a hollow backsplasher provided with an upstanding and laterally extending front wallzhaving a laterally extending opening formed therein and carried by said cooking top adjacent v to the rear thereof; the combination comprising a plurality of pushbutton switches respectively corresponding to said surface heating units mounted in lateral alignment insaid bar'zksplasher, each of saidswitches beingprovided with. an

off pushbutton and a plurality of control pushbuttons projecting forwardly through-said opening so that the outer endsof said pushbuttons terminate in a'laterally extending row forwardly of said front wall,-in each one of said switches said off pushbutton being operative to actuate said one switch to disconnect the corresp'onding one of said surface heating units and-said source of current supply, in each one of said switches said controlpushbuttons being selectively operative to actuate said one switch selectively-to co'mplete corresponding different heating connectionsbetween the corresponding one' of said surface heating units and said source of current supply, said front wall having a laterally extending window formed in the upperportion thereof above said opening, a plurality of light transmitting color cards mounted in said back splasher in a laterally extending row above said switches and respectively associated with said switches, and means including a single laterally extending lamp mounted in the upper portion of said backsplasher above said switches and rearwardly of said window for projecting light through said window in order to illuminate said front wall and said cooking top and for projecting light through said'colorcards onto the respectively-associated ones of said switches, in each one of said switches said control pushbuttons being formed of light transmitting material, each one of said color cards being provided with a plurality of different light color transmittingpanes respectively associated with said control pushbuttons in the associated one of said switches, each one of said switches being provided 'with' shutter means responsive to operation of any one of said control pushbuttons for effecting the transmission of light therethrough from the respectively associated one of said panes in the 'associated'one of said color cards.

2. In an electric range including a body housing an oven, a heating unit associated with said oven, a cooking top carried by said body, a plurality of surface heating units carried 'bysaid cooking top, a source of current supply, and a hollow backsplasher provided with an upstanding and laterally extending front wall having a laterally extending opening formed therein and carried by said cooking top adjacent to-the rear thereof; the combination comprising a plurality of pushbutton switches respectively corresponding to said-oven: and tosaid surface unitsmounted in 'lateral'alignment in said 'backs'plasher, each of said switches beingprovidedwithanoff pushbutton and a plurality of control ipushbuttons projecting forwardly through said opening so that the outer'ends of said Jpushbuttons terminate in a laterally extending row forwardly of said front wall, sin each one of said switches said oftpushbutton being operative to actuatesaid one switch to 'disconnn'ect the corresponding one of said heating units and said-source of ."current supply; in each one of said switches said control 'pushbuttons bein'gselectively operative to actuate said oneswitch selectively to complete corresponding different heating connections between the corresponding 'one of said heating umts and said source of current supply, said front wall having laterally extending window formed in the upper portion thereof r above said opening, a plurality of light transmitting color cards'mounted i'n said backsplasher in a laterally extending row above said switches and .respectively associated with said'switchea-and means including a single laterally extending lamp mounted in the upper portion of said backsplasher above said switches and rearwardly of said window for projecting light throughsaid window in order to illuminate said front wall and said cooking -top and for projecting light through said color cards onto the respectively REFERENCES CITED 'The following'references are of recordinthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,931,012 Sampson et a1. 'Oct. 17, 1933 2,431,904 Andrews Dec. 2,1947 2,437,555 Rees Mar. 9, 1948 2,450,399 Sheidler Sept. 28, 1948 2,453,832 Dadson Nov. 16, 1948 2,492,100 Kitson Dec. 20, 1949 2,494,892

Mayer Jan. 1'7, 1950 

